SAN FRANCISCO— Perhaps it's time to worry.
Some uneven play from UCLA The first few weeks of the season could be ignored as a team filled with new players found their footing.
But there was no reasonable explanation for what happened Tuesday night.
Playing a former Pac-12 rival in a matchup that should have provided some tension, the Bruins instead looked like they had little interest in being here.
Passion was not an issue in California. The Golden Bears were the tougher and more determined team in the fight. No. 18 Bruins loss with a score of 80-72 at the Empire Classic at Chase Center.
UCLA guard Donovan Dent brings the ball up the court.
(Yang Kim Lim/UCLA Athletics)
Things hit rock bottom with about two minutes left when UCLA point guard Donovan Dent went down with an apparent calf injury and limped off the court.
The Bruins' comeback hopes technically ended when Cal's Dai Dai Ames hit a crossover followed by a 3-pointer to give the Golden Bears an eight-point lead with 1:24 remaining.
What concerned UCLA most was Dent's continued struggles. The transfer from New Mexico, who arrived with much fanfare, hardly looked like a top-level player in the first month of the season.
Its numbers on Tuesday marked a new low. He never looked comfortable on the court, making just one of eight shots en route to three points and committing almost as many turnovers (six) as assists (seven). His shooting problems throughout the season have been particularly acute at the three-point line (10%) and free throw line (56.7%).
UCLA's Trent Perry scored 19 points and Eric Dailey Jr. had 17, but it wasn't enough as the Bruins (5-2) allowed the Golden Bears (6-1) to make 11 of 22 3-pointers (50%).
Big trouble loomed for the Bruins when Chris Bell (22 points) hit a corner 3-pointer to give Cal a 65-53 lead with 9:29 left, prompting UCLA coach Mick Cronin to use his only reliable tool, a timeout.
His team rallied to tie the game 71-67 with just under five minutes remaining on Jamar Brown's corner 3-pointer. Then UCLA center Xavier Booker made a large group of Bruins fans roar with a ferocious block. It was very good for the Bruins.
UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau, the team's leading scorer, missed his second straight game with a knee sprain that could keep him out for another week or so. But he appeared to be moving well while also practicing pre-game dribbling with assistant coach David Singleton.
An entertaining, if poorly executed, first half ended with UCLA leading 41-36. As Dent's fears mounted after a one-point attempt in which he missed all three shots, Perry came off the bench with 12 points to lead the Bruins.
By aggressively attacking the basket, Perry rewarded the fans with a loud “UCLA!” chant the old-fashioned three-point play during a layup in which he was fouled. The Bruins used a four-guard lineup late in the first half, which appeared to stabilize the situation after Daly struggled with shot selection and forward Brandon Williams picked up two fouls.
Dent, the guard UCLA needs most, has yet to emerge this season as expected. Now you can add injury to your list of worries.
